Niviene Larethian

Accepting a Loss

The afternoon sun came streaming through the lace curtains, leaving dappled shadows across the kitchen table. Niviene glanced around the room, taking in the hustle and bustle of the women preparing the evening meal, listening to the laughter and lively conversation that practically bounced off the walls of the room. She turned sky blue eyes to the woman who sat across from her then looked down into her tea cup, “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

Venibeth nodded, her speech a little rushed, “Yeah. I can’t stay there. There’s too many reminders. I know it’s silly. I know he might come home. But the place is so big and the forge… it looms out there, silently judging me. I just can’t.” she shuddered slightly and shook her head, “No this is good. There’s plenty going on to distract me from myself most of the time. And when it all gets to me there are plenty of people to listen to me rant or comfort me when I cry.”

She looked up at her long time friend and her features softened, she reached out and put a hand on Niv’s, “Not that you aren’t there for me when I need you. You’ve been great. I couldn’t have gotten this far without you. But here, there’s always someone to watch the kids when I… when I go out of town.”

The priestess looked at Venibeth turned her hand up, lacing her fingers through the mage’s, squeezing gently, “It’s alright, I understand. Have you heard anything new?”

The mage heaved a great sigh, her whole body slumping with discouragement, “Nothing real. There have been sightings.” this was accompanied by air quotes, “But when I get there it was someone else. People tend to think all Gilnaen’s look alike.”

Niviene watched Veni for a moment then, softening her voice, she asked, “How much longer are you going to do this? You’re killing yourself.”

Venibeth pulled her hand away, dropping it into her lap, “I don’t know. I can’t just give up can I? The kids need their daddy.” she sighed brokenly, her voice thick with unshed tears, “You know, I still don’t know why he went to Darnassus that day. That day of all days. I try telling myself that he wasn’t there when the horde attacked, that he escaped the fire. Everytime I go there, every time I check in and there’s no news I think…. That means he’s not dead. He wasn’t there. But I know Riley, if he was able he would have come home to his babies. He would have come home to me.”

“You’re right, he would have. So… how long are you going to put yourself through this? It’s been months. You were already thin but you’re skin and bones now. He would barely recognize you if he walked through that door. You know he wouldn’t want you to put yourself through this. Beside, those kids need you now more than ever.” Niviene glanced around the kitchen again before turning back to Venibeth, “It’s great that you’re surrounded by friends but they need their momma. They need you. Now more than ever.”

Veni nodded, “Just one more trip. I got a message this afternoon, I’m going in the morning. If it’s a dead end I’ll let it go. I’ll try to convince myself that Riley’s gone for good.”